A comprehensive new guide designed to support growers in the fight against Potato Cyst Nematode (PCN) has been released by GB Potatoes and the Cambridge University Potato Growers Research Association (CUPGRA), offering up-to-date, evidence-based strategies for managing one of the most intractable threats to commercial potato production.

PCN continues to pose a serious challenge to the sustainability of UK potato growing, with yield losses and soil health degradation impacting long-term productivity. The newly published management guide draws on the latest research in nematology and plant pathology, providing detailed, practical guidance for growers on mitigation and control.

Developed by Dr. Matthew Back and Dr. Katarzyna Dybal of Harper Adams University, the guide sets out a pragmatic framework for growers, covering integrated control strategies including varietal resistance, rotation planning, soil diagnostics, biological and chemical control options, and resistance stewardship.

“Eradicating PCN from infested land would require extreme measures, such as prolonged fallow periods or complete soil sterilisation, which are simply unfeasible in a commercial farming context,” said Scott Walker, Chief Executive of GB Potatoes. “Instead, what is needed is a pragmatic, integrated approach that limits the development of PCN populations over time using a combination of complementary strategies.”

The guide is made available exclusively to members of GB Potatoes and CUPGRA through their respective member portals, with a public factsheet to follow as part of a wider information campaign.

David Almond, Director of CUPGRA, emphasised the applied value of the resource: “This guide provides specific, practical crop protection measures tailored to PCN, covering everything from cultural and biological controls to chemical treatments and varietal resistance. Given the global economic significance of PCN, research and innovation in this area is ongoing, and the guide also outlines some of the latest developments in crop protection strategies from around the world.”

For producers operating in regions with confirmed PCN presence, the new guide represents a critical tool in adapting production systems to maintain crop viability and regulatory compliance.

Growers are encouraged to engage with the full document through their association memberships and to consult with agronomists and researchers as they implement long-term management strategies.